16 News

Research proposals are invited from small businesses and universities to help Defence devise novel ways of integrating advanced materials onto military platforms.

Australia’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) and the United Kingdom’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) are collaborating on research to find innovative joining technologies that will provide Defence in both countries with enhanced capability through improved performance and increased durability.
The technologies may include new adhesives to improve longevity in body armour, new methods for producing graded material, or advanced processes for integrating new joining techniques into existing structures.
An information session will be held on Wednesday 28 November in central Melbourne.
This event will allow you to find out more about the call as well as meet the SBIRD team, technical experts from DST, front-line users and potential collaborators.
Please register  for an entry ticket.
Applications will open on 28 November, 2018 and close on 1 February, 2019.
Further information is available SBIRD and DASA 

The 1700 kilometre Inland Rail project is moving ahead thanks to the Liberal and Nationals’ Government, with ground-breaking geotechnical work underway for one of the most technically complex segments of nation-building project.
The Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail in Queensland of about 130km will require 8.5km of tunnels to be built through the Toowoomba, Teviot and Liverpool ranges to reduce travel times and increase operating efficiencies.
This vital infrastructure will link one of Australia’s most productive farming regions to the eastern seaboard, and global and domestic markets, to operate faster-moving trains carrying more freight, on the Brisbane to Melbourne rail-line.
To optimise project outcomes, a deep understanding of the geological conditions is needed to gather information which will be used to guide strategic planning, assessments and engineering solutions.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has awarded a $23 million contract to Golder Associates Pty Ltd to undertake these comprehensive geotechnical studies to optimise tunnel designs.
This detailed work also includes drilling the deepest borehole for the project in Queensland – estimated to be 280 metres – to gather the necessary rock and earth samples.
With the $23 million contract announced today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack welcomed the start of the important geotechnical investigations.
Mr McCormack said this work will provide vital information for the companies preparing bids to win the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract for the Gowrie to Kagaru section of the Inland Rail.
He said the PPP is vital for guiding the Inland Rail’s overall construction and will assist the Australian Government and private sector to work together strategically and cohesively, while utilising industry expertise and minimising project costs.
“Awarding this $23 million contract will help to generate the best possible design solution for this critically important but ground-breaking segment of the Inland Rail,” he said.
“The Inland Rail is a nation-building project which will still be operating and delivering economic and community benefits a century from now, which is why we are working purposefully to ensure we optimise the design and construction.
“An estimated $10 per tonne freight saving, with faster and more efficient movement of farm produce from paddock to cities, is just one of the many exciting benefits of the Inland Rail which this government is delivering.”
Minister for Finance and the Public Service Mathias Cormann said the geotechnical work is vital to ensuring outcomes such as double-stacked trains being able to operate on the rail line through the ranges west of Brisbane.
Senator Cormann said this will improve freight industry productivity and link Toowoomba and Darling Downs producers to hungry and growing domestic and international markets.
“This geotechnical work will provide the vitally important technical information needed to build the 6.4km tunnel under the Great Dividing Range which will be an engineering feat driven by government and industry collaboration,” Senator Cormann said.
“Inland Rail will create over 7000 direct and indirect jobs here in Queensland and contribute $7 billion to the Gross State Product so it’s critical we get it right and that’s something this Government knows is important to the local community.”
In making the announcement of the $23 million contract at the borehole site north of Toowoomba, Federal Member for Groom John McVeigh welcomed geotechnical work commencing on the Gowrie to Kagaru section of the Inland Rail.
Dr McVeigh said his home State stood to benefit greatly from the nation-building rail project.
“The Inland Rail will deliver substantial benefits for Queensland so it’s critical we build the best possible rail line which is what this work helps to achieve,” Dr McVeigh said.
“It will ease pressure on our roads and highways, making them safer and less congested removing an estimated 200,000 truck movements from roads each year.
“I’m looking forward to the Queensland Government finalising the bilateral agreement so we can get on with the job of building this vital infrastructure and Queenslanders can experience the Inland Rail’s benefits.”

The Department of Human Services is often the first place those experiencing domestic violence turn to when in crisis, with the agency providing significant help and support to tens of thousands of families each year.

The Department delivered crisis payments to about 50 people a day last financial year and more than 63,000 individuals received support from our network of more than 700 social workers based around the country.

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation Michael Keenan said everyone had a right to live free from violence.

“My Department is deeply committed to helping those in need and I am proud to say that 22,000 of our employees have now undergone special training to help them proactively identify people at risk,” Mr Keenan said.

“This training enables us to engage in early intervention and direct people to the wide range of support that is available to them, both from the Government and external partner agencies.

“For those unable to come into one of our service centres, support information is available online 24 hours a day. Our Family and Domestic Violence web pages were viewed almost 190,000 times last year.

“These online resources are also available in 28 languages so it’s easier for culturally and linguistically diverse communities to find out about the support that’s available.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing family or domestic violence, please contact the national sexual assault and family and domestic violence counselling service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit humanservices.gov.au/enough.

The Australian Greens have called on the Education Minister to not ditch a proposed university sexual assault taskforce . Fairfax Media has revealed that the taskforce was close to being announced by former Minister Birmingham, but has since been put on hold by Minister Tehan.
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson said:
“For the Minister to effectively ditch a taskforce on such an important issue is offensive and shows he has no understanding of the very real issue of sexual assault and harrassment on university campuses. The taskforce is ready and waiting to go, why is the Minister blocking this crucial accountability measure.
“Minister Tehan would rather stand up for denialists of campus rape culture like Bettina Arndt than for students who have been working in good faith with the Government over the last few years.
“All the key players understand the need for an institutional change in culture to protect women in universities. The Minister must admit he was wrong and allow the taskforce to proceed as planned” she concluded.
Australian Greens Spokesperson for the Status of Women, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“What a blow for women’s safety on campus that the Morrison coup has led to shelving an important reform to keep women safe.
“Women shouldn’t have to run the gauntlet of sexual assault and harassment to gain an education.
“The Morrison Government should immediately progress the taskforce and ensure universities and residences are held to account when it comes to ending rape on campus.
“The safety of women on university campuses shouldn’t be neglected because of Liberal Party ministerial musical chairs.”

Women will get a better deal in accessing superannuation assets at the end of a relationship as a consequence of a new information-sharing initiative announced today as part of the Coalition Government’s Women’s Economic Security Package.
$3.3 million will be provided to the Australian Taxation Office to develop an electronic information-sharing system to ensure the family law courts have better visibility of parties’ superannuation assets when making property orders.
Separating couples will have access to faster and fairer family law property settlements as a result of this new system which will make it easier to identify lost or undisclosed superannuation assets.
“The Coalition Government’s Women’s Economic Security Statement is delivering practical measures to help give women greater choices about their lives and to build financial security for themselves and their families,” Minister for Women, Kelly O’Dwyer, said.
“Improving the visibility of superannuation assets in family law proceedings is particularly important for Australian women.”
“The Coalition Government is focused on delivering a family law system that supports the needs of Australian families,” Attorney-General, Christian Porter, said.
“Getting full visibility of superannuation assets in family law matters can be complex, time-consuming and costly, often requiring parties to go on ‘fishing expeditions’ using subpoenas and other formal court processes, with no guarantee of success. This new system will ensure faster and fairer resolutions of family law property disputes.”
“Superannuation is often the most significant asset in a separated couple’s property pool, particularly for low-income households with few assets,” Assistant Treasurer, Stuart Robert, said.
“About 40 per cent of people with superannuation have more than one account.”
“In 2015–16, the gap between the median superannuation balance of men and women nearing retirement age was 42 per cent,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
“Parties to family law proceedings are legally required to disclose all of their assets to the court, including superannuation, however, in practice, parties may forget, or deliberately withhold, information about their superannuation assets.”
The non-disclosure of superannuation assets can often disproportionately disadvantage women due to a significant disparity in superannuation savings between men and women. A lack of financial disclosure by a former partner can result in women receiving a smaller share of property than they would otherwise be entitled to.”
Non-disclosure of assets in family law proceedings can also delay cases. A recent study by the Women’s Legal Service Victoria found that two-thirds of clients surveyed faced delays caused by a former partner failing to make the necessary financial disclosures.
Giving the courts access to superannuation information held by the ATO is expected to result in faster and fairer family law property settlements. It will help parties in family law proceedings, particularly women, avoid the cost and complexity involved in seeking superannuation information from multiple superannuation funds, or subpoenaing employment records.
It will also provide the family law courts with a more accurate and reliable source of superannuation information to inform a property settlement, and result in more just and equitable outcomes.
The electronic information-sharing system will commence on 1 July 2020.

Virtual reality is being used in a unique project to check the driving skills of senior Australians and improve road safety, thanks to a $726,000 investment by the Morrison Government.
Called Hector VR, the Virtual Reality Driving Simulator for Older Drivers targets people between 70 and 80 years of age and is now being trialled in the Inverell district of New South Wales.
“This is ground-breaking innovation, to enable senior Australians to live longer, better lives,” said Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt AM.
“Hector VR supports people to maintain their proficiency on the road and can be used to test driving skills, to help them decide if they should stay behind the wheel.
“The thought of giving up your licence and the extra independence that comes with driving yourself can be daunting for people as they age, particularly for those in rural and regional areas.
“However, we have to make sure it is safe for them to keep driving and this technology will help with that potentially lifesaving decision.”
Developed by aged care provider McLean Care in partnership with Deakin University’s School of Engineering, the trial uses emerging interactive virtual reality, linked with smart sensor technology.
The driving simulator is contained in the shell of a Holden Captiva vehicle, to increase the sense of reality for drivers.
“Sensors are also installed which measure the driver’s reaction times and heart rate to assess their responses to a variety of situations that can arise when driving,” said Member for New England Barnaby Joyce.
“In addition to helping older drivers maintain and test their skills, Hector VR is designed to help those with medical conditions, such as dementia and who can no longer drive, to re-live the driving experience.
“The virtual driving scenarios are modelled on the township of Inverell including important local buildings, major shopping centres, retail outlets and landmarks to make the user’s experience as realistic as possible.
“The simulator includes differing road environments and realistic scenarios such as country driving and various levels of traffic.”
Development of the virtual reality driving simulator was funded through the Government’s $34 million Dementia and Aged Care Services grants scheme, which is promoting innovation across the country.
“I congratulate McLean Care and Deakin University on this exciting project, which is already attracting national and international attention,” said Minister Wyatt.
The Government’s work to support senior Australians is backed by a record $5 billion boost to aged care over the next four years.